29 November 2012

A recent item in the newspaper about refurbishment of The Badger
stated that the owner in the late 18th century had earned a vast fortune
during the Napolionic wars by selling hair powder.

Someone has their wires crossed a little! The certificate above shows that Shafto Coulter paid Hair powder tax in 1797.

Duty on Hair Powder Act 1795 (35 Geo. III, c. 49) was an Act of Parliament levying a tax on hair powder. It was repealed in 1869.

The Act stated that everyone wishing to use hair powder must, from 5
May 1795, visit a stamp office to enter their name and pay for an annual
certificate costing one guinea. Certain exemptions were included: the
Royal Family and their servants, clergymen with an income of under £100 a
year, subalterns, non-commissioned officers, privates in the army,
artillery, militia, mariners, engineers, fencibles, officers in the navy
below commander, yeomanry, and volunteers. A father with more than two
unmarried daughters might buy two certificates which would be valid for
any number he stated at the stamp office. The master of a household
might buy a certificate for a member of his servants which would also be
valid for their successors within that year. The use of hair powder had
been declining and the tax hastened its near death. In 1812 46,684
people still paid the tax, in 1855 only 997 did, and almost all of these
were servants.

13 November 2012

The venue for the Meeting "Strategic Decisions at Flodden" on Thursday 15th November will be the Lounge at Ponteland Memorial Hall.
The venue has been changed as St. Mary's Church Hall is a Polling
Station for the elections for Crime & Police Commissioner. The
meeting will start at 7.45pm.